Altoona is in talks to purchase the city's only public golf course from the family who has owned it for 54 years.

The Altoona City Council on Monday approved a letter declaring its intent to purchase Terrace Hills Golf Course for just less than $3.1 million by the end of next year.

The city will hire a private company to manage the facility starting in spring 2020.

Owner Joe Riding, 56, said he and his wife, Leann, have received offers from developers over the past two years who wanted to turn the course at 8700 N.E. 46th Ave. into residential housing, but the family wanted to find a way to keep the course open.

“There comes a time with everything that it’s time to move on,” Riding said. “Our No. 1 goal was to see the golf course stay as a golf course.”

Altoona City Administrator Jeff Mark said the city also wanted to keep the facility open to avoid losing a community asset.

“When you say you’re a full-service community, we include golfing as one of those items we provide,” Mark said. “It’s a lot easier to keep the golf course you have than it is to go out and build a new golf course.”

Mark said following Monday's vote, the city plans to begin the search for a private company to manage the facility.

Under the terms in the letter of intent, the city would close on the property by Dec. 31, 2019. The purchase would include the land, buildings, rights to the name and website, but not the golf course equipment and clubhouse furnishings.

Mark said the course will remain open during the transition. The Ridings will manage the facility through the end of the 2019 golfing season.

Terrace Hills Golf Course was opened in 1964 by Joe Riding’s grandparents, Joe and Clara Riding. The course remained in the family, and Joe and his wife assumed full ownership in 2014. It is the only golf course in Altoona.

Riding said he and his wife work six to seven days a week at the course during the summer. They are looking forward to "semi-retirement" and being able to spend more time with their children and grandchildren, he said.

“If this (purchase) works out, we’ll be looking forward to Memorial Day 2020 when my wife and I can look at each other and say, ‘Hey what do you want to do over the weekend besides work?’” he said.